The Inagahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1884.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1343, 2 January 1884, Page 2

The Inagahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1884.

In consequence of Sunday hours being observed at the telegraph office yesterday we are without riur uaunl telegrams this morning. The chief event at the Greymo 'th races was won by Rore, Comet second. We regret to learn that both Sincerity and Parnell were both unsuccessful at the meeting. The races at Ahaura yesterday are said to have been well attended, and the racing very good. Mr Williams' Forester won the "big money," Misfortune second. The regular monthly meeting of. the Hospital Committee will be held at the Southern Cross Hotel,* this evening, at 9 o'clock. The directors of the Keep-it-Dark Company will meet to-day for the purpose of declaring the usual .monthly dividend of one shilling; per share. ■ The Hopeful Extended Company have arranged to start crushing at the Juat-in-Time and Fi«y Cro«i battery about ,tho 10th instant, ftome repairs to the battery race Have "been effected ttnrinjf'the holidays! - j N The Globe battery was restarted at midnight last night, and will he kept constantly employed, the supply of stone to the battery being well in advance of the stampers. We understand that the gross receipts of the Hospital Carnival reach the sum of £95. There is however, a considerable quantity of stock on hand which will probably be converted into cash at a conveuient opportunity. Large numbers of Reefton people wended their way towards Crushington yesterday for the purpose of taking part in the public pic-nic there. Open air dancing was one of the attractions of the occasion, and we learn that the amusement was largely patronised. The half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the South Hopeful Company was held at the office of Mr George "Wise on Saturday last, when the repoifts and balancesheet were read and adopted, and the following dirpctors elected for the ensuing six months :— Messrs. G. C. Bowman, P. Murphy, M. Levy, J. Butler, and C. Kassler. The Church of England Sunday School pic-nic, held on the race-course grounds yesterday, was very largely attended, both by parents and children, and a very enjoyable day was spent. The Rev. Mr Sedgwick, with Vrs Sedgwick and (nther ladies and gentlemen, provided amply for the children, and the day being fine, a very agreeable afternoon was spent. Yesterday was generally observed as a close holiday in town, and the Church of England pic-nic in Smith's Paddock, the V ethodist pic-nic in Dick's Paddock, and the public pic-nic at Crushing! on- provided ample attraction for holiday makers. The weather was, however, threatening throughout, and a few Blight showers which fell during the day rather detracted from the enjoyment of out-door amusements. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Keep-it-Dark Company was held at the office of Mr G. < ' Bowman on Saturday evening last, Mr J. Thorburn being in the chair. The meeting was attended personally by a large number of share-, holders, the total number of shares represented being 15,000 out of 20,000. The reports and balance-sheet for the past year were read and -adopted unanimously without comment. The old directory was re-elected, the vacancy created by the.retirement of Mr Ti. Dykes being filled by \ r T. iV! 'Laughlin. There was a great clearance out of holiday visitors from Reefton yesterday and towards the evening the town assumed much of its ordinary aspect. It is generally felt ihat the holidays this year have been rather protracted owing probably to the circumstance of two Sundays falling within what may be termed the festive Beason. However, the saturnalia being now over, people will be able to ro-

turn to their avocations with rene\ved ] energy and zest, ami business affairs gene- '< rally will not be long in getting back i into their accustomed groove. ] In spite of the many counter attractions the annual pic-nic in connection with the • United Methodist Froe Church, Reefton, " held in Dick's Paddock yesterday, was ,' numerously attended, a very pleasant outing being afforded to both parents and children. The Rev. Mr Penney, with other ladies and gentlemen .of the congregation, looked well after the enjoyment of the company and the afternoon was spent very pleasantly. The ceremony of welcoming in the New Year was enacted with all the enthusiasm nnd display for which Reefton has become proverbial. Triumphal arches of Chinese lanterns were thrown across Broadway at Mr Schulhofs and at Mr Katera Exchange Hotel, and exactly at midnight the deep and sullen tones of the fire bell announced the birth of the New Yeai*, and the joyful tiding was rung out simultaneously by innumerable hand-bells, as well as those of the churches and schools, and in the midst of a tremendous glare of colored "tire and the blaze of rockets, Roman candles and other illuminations, the baptism of young Anno Domini, 1884, was accomplished. A torch-light procession was then formed; and headed by the City Band, marched through the town to the charming strains of Auld Lang Syne, and. which the public, undei toned by the showers of fireworks, took part. The demonstration closed about 1.30 p.m. The Hospital Carnival held on the racecourse grounds on Monday last, proved successful in every respect, The attendance was not so large as was expected, but still was sufficiently bo to bring the receipts at the gates up to a respectable sum. We have not heard the exact amount received, but believe it to have been somewhere about £30. The friendly aecieties mustered at the Oddfellow's Hall at noon, and shortly afterwards fell into marching order, the Oddfellows, as the oldest established order, taking precedence, and headed by the Black's Point Band, the procession marched to the ground. The turn out looked remarkably well as it filed down Broadway, the |divergent colors of the different orders presenting a very picturesque appearance. Arrriving on the ground the band took up a position under an awning on the grand stand, and dancing was quickly commenced on the spacious platform laid down for the occasion, and this form of amusement was well patronised throughout the day. The various foot-races, and other contests were well competed for. ! "Aunt Sally" came in for a large share of patronage, - thanks to the assiduity of Messrs. F. tU'Lean, T. Crumpton and others, who togetherfrom this source added something like £5 to the receipts of the day. Lawn tennis and rounders found numerous votaries, while cricket, football and other games kept young Reefton we'll employed. The three refreshment bare on the ground and presided over by members of the committee did a fair business' Altogether a very pleasant day was spent. Mr Bon Held Aker.'s assisted by Mrs Akers, and lady and gentlemen amateurs gave a musical recital in the Oddfellow's Hall on Monday eVening last. The programme consisted of instrumental performances on the piano and violin, interspersed with songs and duets. As a pianist Mr Akers ha.* already an established reputation, and his performance was an undoubted treat, he possesses executive talent of the first order, and notably in his rendering, of the solo " Mazeppa " displayed the brilliancy and dash of an artist. Mrs Akers is also a most finished performer on the piano and violin, and the delicacy of her accompaniments showed her to be an accomplished musician. Mr F Pitt sang "I Fear No Foe " and l Let me • ike a Soldier all," and was deservedly encored on each occasion. Mr Akers left for Greymouth this morning. • A house crowded to almost the last degree greeted Fisher's Comedy and Burlesque Company last night, and the performance from first to last was received with the strongest manifestations of approval. Thd company is certainly one of the best variety combinations we have yet had in Reefton, and it is long since * the hall has rung with such genuine laughter and applause as it did last evening. The performance is one which appears to have hit the public taste exactly, and a uccessful season may be predicted for the company in Reefton The programme last 1 ni^ht was as varied as anybody could wish, and there was a freshness and vitality about it which took immensely. Owing to the exigencies of the holiday season we are unaMe to give a more lengthy notice of the entertainment, but as an antidote to the dullness an 3 monotony of life in Reefton for some time past, we can confidently commend it to the public. To-night there will be a complete change of programme, introducing new comedy and burlesque, songs, choruses, and negro delineations. The following are the pieces to-night : — The comedy of "The Young Widow," with a musical olio and trapeze performance, concluding with the screaming farce of " Paddy Miles' Boy." It is announced that Y'r Cowan, a member of the coiupaii}', will undertake the tuning and repairing of pianos. The Grey Argus says : — " At the extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Golden Fleece Extended Quartz M ining Company, held at the company's office, Tainui street, Greymouth, on Friday, the 28th December, 1883, 33,867 shares were represented. The proposals of the directors for re-organisation of the company were unanimously agreed to and approved of. The style of the new com-

pkny will be the Golden Fleece United Quartz Mining Company, Limited.. The application fyr the uew shares by the present shareholders must be' forwarded to the manager's oiide before .the Ist February, 1884. It will? be necessary for all those owing call* to forward same without dtsluy, as the shares in thetjew, company ai;e to be advertised as forfeited."